Clippers’ magic runs out in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. >> The Clippers, who had been averaging 124 points and shooting more than 50 percent during a three-game winning streak, came up cold Wednesday night.

L.A. shot just 37 percent from the floor in a 98-90 loss to the Orlando Magic.

Nik Vucevic had 30 points — including six free throws in the final 23 seconds — and 21 rebounds to help Orlando hold on for its third in a row, and giving the Magic their first three-game streak since December of last season.

L.A. became the third straight Magic opponent to shoot under 40 percent.

The Clippers have little time to dwell on their shortcomings, though, as they continue a three-game road trip today at Miami.

Even during their win streak, Clippers coach Doc Rivers has been cautioning that their defense wasn’t close to acceptable. He said his approach to changing the culture requires no special formula.

“You’ve just got to keep talking about it,” he said. “We win games, we score 100 or whatever points, that’s always fool’s gold. Our offense is always fool’s gold. You’ve got to defend to win. The good part about tonight is that was proven.”

Orlando led by as many as 19 points in the third quarter, but the Clippers went on a 25-5 run to take their first lead that quieted the Amway Center crowd.

Blake Griffin led the Clippers with 23 points and 13 rebounds, and Chris Paul added 18 points and 10 assists. Former Magic guard J.J. Redick also chipped in 17 points.

Just days after scoring their most points in nearly four years, the Clippers were sluggish and looked a little tired on both ends early as the youthful Magic pushed the pace on the way to building a 15-point halftime lead.

The Clippers led 75-72 early in the fourth when Byron Mullens and Andrew Nicholson got tangled up running down the floor. Nicholson fell to the ground during the scrum and was initially whistled for a technical foul.

It was reviewed and a technical was also awarded to Mullens.

The play seemed to re-ignite the Magic, though, who took the lead back — 83-80 — on a transition 3-pointer by E’Twaun Moore with 6:43 to play.

Paul tied it again at 86 with a short jumper in the lane a few trips later, and a defensive 3-seconds call on the Magic and a free throw by Redick gave back the lead to Los Angeles.

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It twice changed hands on the next two trips before a fade away jumper by Arron Afflalo put the Magic back in front 90-89.

The Clippers called timeout to set up a play, but Paul missed a 3-pointer late in the shot clock which was rebounded by Orlando.

Vucevic then scored off a feed from Jameer Nelson on the other end.

Paul turned it over on the Clippers’ next possession, but the Magic failed to get up a clean shot on their ensuing trip.

DeAndre Jordan was fouled and connected on 1 of 2 free throws to trim it 92-90 with 25 seconds remaining.

Vucevic then started his parade to the line to close it out.

“It’s more important that we took the blow that they gave us,” Magic guard Jameer Nelson said. “They came out in the third and pretty much had their way. Basketball is a game of runs. They made their run and we took the blow. We executed well, we stuck to our game plan and even when they executed against our game plan and were successful, we stuck with it.”